How Bad is Pollution in Half Moon Bay?

How at risk are Half Moon Bay residents from pollution compared to other cities in the state? According to state officials, the answer is not too bad for local residents.

Based on new state figures released this week, we're in the mid-percentile range of California zip codes in terms of being at potential for health risks stemming from pollution of all sorts, including hazardous waste, pesticides, air quality, and groundwater threats.

Half Moon Bay's state ranking is at 51 to 55 percent where neighboring Pacifica is at 76 to 80 percent (lower percent is worse). Moss Beach's ranking isn't much better than Half Moon Bay's at 56-60 percent. Montara comes in at the healthiest with a state ranking of 91-95 percent.

The map data also indicates that Coastsiders living in Moss Beach, El Granada and Half Moon Bay are most at risk from pesticides.

See a map of the data for every town in the state here

The figures come from a new state report issued by the California Environmental Protection Agency and the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) that compiles health risks based on 11 types of pollution and factors in seven categories of population and demographic factors, including poverty and education levels.

The purpose of the report is to identify communities that are eligible for grants from the state's Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, according to Sam Delson, an OEHHA spokesman. The law governing that fund mandates certain percentages be spent on disadvantaged communities, making it necessary to include economic factors in the state report.

The state has a map of those communities that are eligible on the report website.

The map above shows scores from each of those categories as well as overall rankings for every zip code in California with a Patch publication. Simply click on any town to see the full report card for each zip code.

You can see a similar map showing every zip code in the state here, and see more details of the report on the state's website.

Also on Half Moon Bay Patch:

• A Great Divide—Rents in Half Moon Bay
• Costco Food Court Closed for Health Violations
• New Homes For Sale in Half Moon Bay This Week
• Half Moon Bay History Quiz: What’s This Photo?